Shloka 22
अम्बोपाख्याने तापसानां विचारः तथा होत्रवाहनस्य उपदेशः
Ambā among ascetics; Hotravāhana directs her to Paraśurāma
त्वया त्यक्ता गमिष्यामि यत्र तत्र विशाम्पते । तत्र मे गतय: सन्तु सन्त: सत्यं यथा ध्रुवम्
tvayā tyaktā gamiṣyāmi yatra tatra viśāmpate | tatra me gatayaḥ santu santaḥ satyaṃ yathā dhruvam ||
Wahai pelindung rakyat! Jika ucapanku sungguh teguh benar, maka setelah kau menolakku, ke mana pun aku pergi semoga orang-orang saleh menjadi sandaranku di sana—sebagaimana kebenaran tak tergoyahkan.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Truth and righteousness are presented as stable supports: if one’s statement is true and one acts in alignment with dharma, then even if abandoned by worldly authority, the ‘good’ (santaḥ) become one’s refuge and uphold one’s path.
Bhishma addresses a king (viśāmpati) with a conditional blessing/appeal: if his words are certainly true, then even if the king rejects him, wherever he goes he should find support and shelter among virtuous people, grounded in the firmness of truth.